Fools Paradise

It was a horrible experience but Wittorf and Coda appear in the white room again. This time a table and two chairs are there along with the door. It was almost as if the room knew he needed to sit down. Since the chair moved to be sat in. Wittorf and Coda both take a seat and Coda looks to Wittorf.

"What purpose did the memory serve you?"

"I don't know."

"Something as insignificant as a fleeting thought can trigger an emotion." Coda waves his hand and some tea cups appear in front of them. It's human to fear your mortality." He waves his hand again and a tea kettle appears in his hand. "It's traumatic to be rejected by your savior." He pours the tea slowly and carefully. "But there was something more to it, wasn't there?"

Recounting back to what the stranger said to him. Wittorf could feel the mixed emotions he was feeling. Anger, Sadness, frustration. He stared into the tea his reflection returning a somber expression. He wanted so badly to go back and tell that man off but he knew he was not strong enough emotionally. He hid that memory deep down and did everything in his powers to keep it there. Coda could see the frustration in Wittorfs eyes.

"Words of power that hold you down. Coda looks deep into Wittorfs eyes. "What did you see in those eyes?"

Wittorf returns the gaze with somber eyes. "A lack of empathy, of pity. He looked at me as if I were nothing. He clenches his fist. "I wanted to scream out, to tell him I'm not a mistake." He releases his grip and takes a deep breath. "To say anything at all. All I could do was watch him go."

It was good to hear his true feelings not hidden behind a mask but bare and vulnerable. His master appreciated the honesty of his pupil. He nods and grips Wittorfs hand. "It would seem he left something important behind that day." He tightens his grip and gives him a serious look. He needed to hear these words now.

"The embers of determination." Coda releases his grip takes a sip of tea before relaxing back. "There is still much I have to teach you before you are ready to find your vessel." He stands up and waves the tea set away. "But we have a starting point.

Wittorf and Coda appear back into the real world. The rest of it fading like a bad dream. Wittorf opens his eyes and wipes the tears from his eyes. When he removes his arm from his face, he reveals a determined look. He was going to face this trial head on, and he was going to win.

Returning to his room Wittorf had more to think about than he ever had. This remedial month was going to be tougher than he anticipated. He was here to learn about magic, but he was not prepared for all of the self-reflection that followed.

That night was a rough one. Turning constantly in his sleep and waking from time to time. The memory fresh in his mind constantly repeating itself. The next morning Wittorf was tired but still focused on making the most of the day.

He returned to the training room to see Master Coda sitting down meditating. He decided to follow suit and sit next to his new teacher. Coda smiles without opening his eyes. Time passes and Wittorf and Coda sit in silence. Days continue like this until a week goes by. Wittorf returns to the room to find Coda is not meditating but instead is standing in the center of the room.

"It would seem your meditation is getting better."

"I remembered why I became a mage."

"It's good to return to your roots." Coda sits down and waves his hand towards the other mat. "It's been a week since we delved into your center. We are going to do the light test once again to see where you stand." Coda calls out to what was seemingly the air. "Xillix could you get the lamp from my office."

"Yes Master" A young cute looking girl with bat wings and a horn appears holding a lamp. Wittorf had never seen this girl before but could tell that she was not human. She was cute and he found himself kind of attracted to her. She looked to be about his age, but something told him she was older than he was. Coda laughed a little noticing Wittorfs expression which was obvious one of curiosity.

"This is Xillix my familiar, one day you too will receive one."

Xillix looks at Wittorf with a blank expression. She seemed to act almost as a maid. Standing in place waiting for her next command. Coda nods and she disappears into thin air without any warning. Coda hands Wittorf the lamp.

"Go ahead and release your mana into the lamp."

A little concerned Wittorf takes a deep breath in and closes his eyes. He exhales and releases the mana into the lamp. It seems almost too easy the flow was steady and strong. When he opened his eyes he notice the lamp was glowing brighter than it ever had. Coda smiles and claps his hands once.

"Congratulations on passing your first test."

He was severely confused. He was still recovering from mana sickness shouldn't this have knocked him out by now. His conflicted expression was clear to Coda. That was something Coda appreciated about Wittorf. He never hid his feelings and that was genuine. Coda smiled and continued.

"If you tried pushing yourself you would have passed out. Right now, you are in control.

He was excited to hear this news. He was advancing but he did not feel very different. Putting the lamp down he gave Coda a huge grin and raised his fist in the air. His excitement was over abundant, and he could not help but give Master Coda a hug. Surprised but content with the outcome Coda could not help but feel the excitement infect himself. Laughing loudly Coda pushes Wittorf away and looks at him in the eye. Wittorf's eyes are glowing with determination.

"I think I'm ready for the next lesson master."